Camarillo, CA. - The annual California State University Media Arts Festival was held Nov. 7 at CSU Fullerton. Student entries from various campuses in the 23 campus CSU system were submitted to the Festival, out of which 30 finalists were chosen for award competition within nine categories: Animation, Documentary, Experimental, Interactive, Music Video, Narrative, Television, Feature Screenplay, and Short Screenplay.

CSU Channel Islands (CI) announced that four students from its Art Program received place recognition for their films: Charlotte Ferguson, Director and Producer, Second Place for her Interactive entry, Velouria Vodka; Kellam Cunningham, Director, and Luke Sommer, Producer, Second Place recognition for their Television entry, Xtreme Dog Walking; Katherine Thompson, Director and Producer, Third Place recognition for her Interactive entry, KMTdesign.com. The finalist projects were screened at the Festival and Rosebud Award (first place) winners were announced.

The Media Arts Festival is conducted under the umbrella CONTINUED »

Piru parents, teachers and students listen as Fenton Charter School Director Irene Sumida explains why becoming a charter school will benefit Piru students, like it has benefited the students of their school.
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Fenton Charter School Family Center Director Tony Peña and Fenton parents share why they are so happy that their children attend a charter school, and say why they think it would be better for Piru children, too.
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Piru visitors tour the primary grade science lab at Fenton Charter School, while Fenton students are working cooperatively on a project about ecosystems.
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Piru visitors see Fenton Charter School's upper grade science lab, where students are learning about the geology of the sea floor.
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Every classroom at Fenton Charter School is equipped with a modern teacher workstation, where the teacher can present information on the LCD projector, control all the students' computers, and speak through a sound amplification system, so that all students can clearly hear, as well as see, every lesson.
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Are charter schools private? Do they charge money to attend? Do they provide fewer programs and services than regular public schools? Rumors and myths about charter schools have been spread around the Piru and Fillmore communities since nine Piru teachers submitted a petition to the Fillmore USD on September 16th to convert Piru Elementary into an independent charter school. On the day before Thanksgiving, a group of seven Piru school parents took a break from their holiday meal preparations to spend the morning finding out the facts for themselves by visiting a real charter school. They went, along with a small group of Piru teachers, to visit Fenton Charter School, in the northeast San Fernando Valley. Only 37 miles from Piru, Fenton is one of the oldest charter schools in California; it started in 1994 as one of the first independent conversion charters in the state, and its demographics almost exactly mirror those of Piru School: 87% of the students qualify for free and reduced lunch, 54% are in the English as a Second Language program, and come from a primarily Hispanic community. The visitors were greeted by Fenton Director Irene Sumida, who started at Fenton as an assistant principal before it became a charter school. “Districts tend to treat all schools as if they are the same,” Ms. Sumida told the group. “Why should you be treated that way? If your school is isolated from the District, don’t you (parents and teachers) know what is best for your school?”

Also leading the tour was Tony Peña, the director of the Family Center at Fenton Charter School. Here parents come during the day to take ESL classes while a daycare and preschool is provided for their young children. Mr. Peña explained that he grew up in the neighborhood and attended Fenton before it was a charter, going on to Maclay Junior High and San Fernando High School, then returned to Fenton to work at the school before it became a charter, and has been working there since 1992. He still lives nearby, and both his daughters attended Fenton Charter School. He made the point that becoming a charter is so popular with the neighborhood parents that“98% of parents (at Fenton) prefer keeping their kids in a charter school (when they leave Fenton), and I was one of those parents.”

At the Fenton Family Center, in the middle of the school’s campus, Mr. Peña introduced us to four of the parents who were taking ESL classes there, while their young children attended preschool right next door. They chuckled when asked if they were required to pay for services and were emphatic to stress that no fees are required from parents for any services. They all agreed with him that because Fenton is a charter school, it provides more services to the children and parents, from parent ESL classes, afterschool programs, more technology for the students, and a bigger voice for parents in how their school is run, and how the funds are spent. As Mr. Peña emphasized, because Fenton is an independent charter school, the money for the children’s education comes directly to their school, and the charter doesn’t “have to share (it) with the District office.”

Ms. Sumida and Mr. Peña showed parents the clean, neat facilities, the well-provisioned cafeteria, and some of the 900 computers on the Fenton campus, introduced them to the four full-time technology specialists who keep those 900 computers up and running, guided them through Fenton’s own TV studio, which also serves as their school’s board room for council meetings, and took them through the science labs, art room and several regular classrooms, which have no more than 25 students. The lower grade classes get an aide for three hours daily, and the upper grades for 1.5 hours daily. At the end of the tour, the parents agreed that being a charter allowed Fenton the opportunity to do great things for kids, and hoped that other Piru parents would take the opportunity to visit charter schools, like Fenton, so they could see for themselves what becoming a charter could mean for Piru Elementary. Several of the parents offered to take back other interested parents who might like to visit Fenton Charter School for themselves. To reach them, please send an email to pirucharterschool@earthlink.net
So what did the Piru parents learn from this trip? Charter schools are free, public schools, just like regular public schools, they do not charge money to attend, and charter schools provide MORE services and programs than regular public schools. These parents saw what the parents at Fenton already know: charter schools are better equipped to respond to the desires of parents in order to meet the needs of their children.

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TUESDAY DECEMBER 1, 2009
5:15 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION
6:00 P.M. - REGULAR MEETING
627 SESPE AVENUE, FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA

AGENDA
5:15 p.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
II. ROLL CALL
III. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NONAGENDA ITEMS, PETITIONS
This is the time and place to address the Board. State law prohibits the Board from acting on issues not included on the agenda; however, requests may be made for discussion of specific topics at subsequent meetings.
IV. CLOSED SESSION
The Board of Education will meet from 5:15 to 6:00 p.m. to consider matters appropriate for Closed Session in accordance with Government Code Sections 3549.1, 54956.7 through 54957.7 and Education Code Section 35146. If the Board does not complete Closed Session discussions at this time, the Board may adjourn to Closed Session at the end of the regular meeting. DISCLOSURE OF ITEM(S) TO BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION School District Pupils (Education Code 35146)
o Expulsion Case Number 09-10-07 Conference with CONTINUED »

The purpose of the organization is the children. To make a commitment and give up some personal time to perform at the groups highest level and serve. That consists of all welcomed and invited who choose to do so.

As stated and mentioned before FOP'S sincerely thanks and appreciates the tremendous support of the Piru and Fillmore community for always supporting us and our fundraisers. This has allowed us to be able to have educating Field trips, the first out door school camp trips teaching respect and inspire wonder, educating and rewarding field assemblies, bus transportation's, High School Scholarship's, Ice cream socials, prizes for children for rewards, class parties, computer supplies, books, paint supplies and materials for projects, school farm necessities, printers, laminator, nurse office supplies, fun festivities with everyone and more. Despite all it has been so rewarding to have been apart of all that his been accomplished.

Teachers and staff that have been so truly recognized and greatly honored. Where would we and the world be with out these great mentors.

Due to the current situation FRIENDS OF PIRU SCHOOL has been under tight scrutiny. FRIENDS OF PIRU SCHOOL has a huge job now to try and re earn the trust of parents and community. I know from personal experience that we as a group can survive and strive forward. It will just take time and everything will be better with FAITH, HOPE, PATIENCE, HOPE and the WILL.

Sincerely,
FRIENDS OF PIRU SCHOOL
Katharine Warring Ponce

Several weeks ago we asked the Piru Neighborhood Council for the opportunity to have a half hour on their agenda to present our plans and hopes for creating a charter school in Piru for next school year. We were told that we could be placed on the November 18th meeting agenda, and planned to make a formal presentation and answer questions.

However, at the end of last week, we were informed that the format of our appearance must be changed. We would not be allowed to make a presentation, instead we would simply answer questions put to us from those in attendance. Then we learned that one of the minority of teachers at Piru who opposes the charter petition would be given his own table, and the opportunity to answer the same questions, as well.

Everyone should be given an opportunity to address the Neighborhood Council, and that includes us. However, the weekend before the meeting, the presentation had been changed into some sort of debate. We must decline such a meeting, as it is our goal, especially after the way the District conducted their meetings at Piru School, to lower the amount of conflict in the community.

It would not be of benefit to our children nor the community to continue such confrontation and accusation. Instead, we welcome opportunities to share information, clarify facts, answer questions and correct misinformation. We are convinced that allowing Piru School to become independent by converting into a charter school will most greatly benefit Piru's children and the community, and we are willing to stake our careers, our seniority and our job security upon it, because we believe the benefits to the children far outweigh our personal risks.

Hace varias semanas hemos pedido al Piru Neighborhood Council para la oportunidad de tener una media hora en su programa a presentar nuestros planes y esperanzas para la creación de una escuela chárter en Piru para el próximo año escolar. Nos dijeron que podríamos el 18 de noviembre hacer una presentación formal y responder a preguntas.

Sin embargo, al final de la semana pasada, nos informaron que hay que cambiar el formato de nuestra apariencia. A nosotros no se les permitiría hacer una presentación, en su lugar solamente pudieramos simplemente responder a las preguntas de personas en asistencia. A continuación, nos hemos enterado de que uno de la minoría de los maestros de Piru quien esta opuesto a la petición de la Carta se diera su propia mesa y la oportunidad de responder a las mismas preguntas.

Estamos de acuerdo que todo el mundo debe tener una oportunidad para abordar al Piru Neighborhood Council, y eso incluye a nosotros. Sin embargo, al fin de la semana pasada, antes de la reunión, la presentación se había cambiada en algún tipo de debate. Nosotros debemos rechazar tal reunión, ya que es nuestro objetivo, especialmente después de la forma en que el Distrito llevó a cabo sus reuniones en la escuela de Piru, para disminuir la cantidad de conflictos en la Comunidad.

No sería de beneficio para nuestros estudiantes ni la Comunidad para continuar tal confrontación y acusaciónes. En su lugar ,agradeciremos las oportunidades para compartir información, aclarar los hechos, responder a las preguntas y correctar información errónea. Estamos convencidos de que permitiendo que la escuela de Piru llegue a ser independientes en convirtiendo en una escuela chárter beneficiará más enormemente a los niños de Piru y la Comunidad, y estamos dispuestos a riesgar nuestra carrera, nuestra antiguedad y nuestra seguridad en el empleo en él, porque creemos que los beneficios a los niños superan nuestros riesgos personales.

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA — California State University Channel Islands (CI) Business & Technology Partnership (B&TP) will host its seventh-annual Holiday Mixer on Thursday, Dec. 3 at the campus. The event will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. that will feature student, faculty, and staff demonstrations on how the campus is furthering its sustainability efforts.

A presentation entitled, ‘The Future of Sustainable Agriculture’ will begin at 6:30 p.m. by keynote speaker Casey Houweling, President and Owner of Houweling Nurseries Ltd., the third largest greenhouse production operator in North America. Casey Houweling has over 33 years of experience as a grower, having joined his father’s agricultural business in 1976 in Delta, British Columbia (Canada). In 1985, Houweling Nurseries became the first large-scale commercial greenhouse vegetable producer in British Columbia, a facility that has grown from 6 to 50 acres.

As demand for fresh greenhouse grown produce grew, CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2009
5:15 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION
6:00 P.M. - REGULAR MEETING
627 SESPE AVENUE, FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA

AGENDA
5:15 p.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
II. ROLL CALL
III. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NONAGENDA ITEMS, PETITIONS
This is the time and place to address the Board. State law prohibits the Board from acting on issues not included on the agenda; however, requests may be made for discussion of specific topics at subsequent meetings.
IV. CLOSED SESSION
The Board of Education will meet from 5:15 to 6:00 p.m. to consider matters appropriate for Closed Session in accordance with Government Code Sections 3549.1, 54956.7 through 54957.7 and Education Code Section 35146. If the Board does not complete Closed Session discussions at this time, the Board may adjourn to Closed Session at the end of the regular meeting. DISCLOSURE OF ITEM(S) TO BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION School District Pupils (Education Code 35146)
o Expulsion Case Number 09-10-06 Labor/Negotiations (Government Code 54957.6) CONTINUED »

Camarillo, Calif. Nov. 12, 2009 – The third and final program in CSU Channel Islands’ (CI) Fall 2009 Chicana/o Speaker Series will feature well-known writer Gustavo Arellano.

The program will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the John Spoor Broome Library, Room 1360, on the CI campus. The program, sponsored by the Chicana/o Studies program, in conjunction with the Center for Multicultural Engagement, is free and open to the public.

Gustavo Arellano is familiar to many readers for his Op/Ed pieces in the Los Angeles Times. He is also a staff writer with Orange County’s alternative newspaper, the OC Weekly, and a frequent guest on Public Radio International’s Weekend America. He writes a nationally syndicated column, “¡Ask a Mexican!” Arellano is the recipient of many awards, including the Los Angeles Press Club’s 2007 President’s Award and an Impacto Award from the National Hispanic Media Coalition.

The child of Mexican immigrants, Arellano grew up in CONTINUED »

Sue Saunders

Camarillo, Calif., – CSU Channel Islands (CI) announced an award received by CI’s Director of Academic Advising and Learning Support Services, Sue Saunders.

Saunders was the founding member of the Advising Center at CI in 2000, bringing with her the experience of more than 20 years’ work in the educational field.

In March 2009, Saunders attended the Pacific Region 9 conference of her professional group, the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). During the conference Saunders presented, “The Student Advising Guide from Orientation and Beyond.” The presentation was chosen as the “Best of the Region” by her peers. This award is presented by NACADA to one session at each of the ten regional conferences.

Saunders was awarded a stipend to attend the NACADA CONTINUED »

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On Monday, November 9, 2009, San Cayetano School recognized good citizenship and character at their Peacebuilder Assembly for the month of November. Mr. Paul Capra, who represented the Capra/Matloz Rainbow Foundation which sponsor the Character Counts Award each month for San Cayetano, came to speak to the students about what a good citizen is and how being good citizens can help students in school and in their outside lives. Each teacher chose a student from his or her class whom showed excellent character and peace-building skills. Julian Calderon and Christina De La Mora, the San Cayetano ASB President and Vice-President assisted Mr. Capra in handing out the Peacebuilder Awards. The Peacebuilders for November are: Marrissa Diaz, Jose Elias, Diana Razo, Angelica Herrera, Vanessa Cabral, Ruby Baez, Ray Thompson-Ayala, Ixa Ibarra, Lillian Diaz, Angel Paniagua, Anjalee Vargas, Yasmine Machuca, Andreena Gil, Alexis Tovar, Aliza Ayala, Abigail Castillo, Joel Garza, Brenda Felix, Leslie Martinez, Alicia Fabian, and Amber Parker. Julian and Christina then announced to the students that the Rainbow Foundation is sponsoring the San Cayetano Character Counts Award of a $100.00 savings bond. Mr. Capra presented the Character Counts Award to a deserving third-grade student. Erika Garza, from Ms. Duran’s class was chosen by the third grade teachers as a model of outstanding behavior and responsibility to the other students. To conclude the assembly, students were reminded to turn in their Perfect Attendance tickets. Each month all students who come to school, each day, on time, are given an orange raffle ticket. The students place their tickets in a box and one ticket is drawn. The student whose ticket is drawn is given a backpack full of supplies. Each month, the tickets will be put into a larger box that will be kept until the end of the year. In June, Mrs. Marholin, the principal, will draw from the tickets to give away two new bicycles.

Austin Brock, a Fillmore Middle School student, has taken the first step to becoming a state wide recognized artist by winning the local competition sponsored by the Fillmore Lions Club. This year's theme was “The Power of Peace”. Austin's work was selected from the work of students in Mrs. Doris Nichols' art classes.
When Austin was asked to describe the significant ideas or inspiration for his poster stated, “My tree represents the uniting power of nature. The Sun represents the rising of a new generation.”
Austin's poster has been forwarded to the local Lions District for further competition in California.
The runner-ups were Valeria Garcia Contreras and Mariah Coats. Austin received $25 as the winner and Valeria and Mariah received $15. Judges Jo Garcia and Ken Mittan were impressed by the many fine posters submitted. They also want to encourage all students to participate again next year.

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2009
5:15 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION
6:00 P.M. – SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
3811 CENTER STREET, PIRU, CALIFORNIA

AGENDA
5:15 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
II. ROLL CALL
III. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY CLOSED SESSION ITEMS, PETITIONS
This is the time and place to address the school board on any closed session item. State law prohibits the Board from acting on issues not included on the agenda; however, requests may be made for discussion of specific topics at subsequent meetings.
IV. CLOSED SESSION
The Board of Education will meet from 5:15 to 6:00 p.m. to consider matters appropriate for Closed Session in accordance with Government Code Sections 3549.1, 54956.7 through 54957.7 and Education Code Section 35146. If the Board does not complete Closed Session discussions at this time, the Board may adjourn to Closed Session at the end of the regular meeting. DISCLOSURE OF ITEMS(S) TO BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION
o Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
 Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to subdivision (b)(3)(A) of Government Code Section 54956.9: 1 case

6:00 P.M.
V. RECONVENE TO REGULAR SESSION Any Action From Closed Session
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Superintendent's Office at (805) 524-6038. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the district to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [In accordance with Government Code 54961 and Board Bylaw 9320(a).]
VI. CLARIFICATION OF AGENDA AND TIME ALLOCATIONS FOR DISCUSSION ITEMS
VII. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
This is the time and place to address the school board on any items on the open session agenda. State law prohibits the Board from acting on issues not included on the agenda; however, requests may be made for discussion of specific topics at subsequent meetings.
IX. ACTION ITEM
a. Approve/Deny Piru Charter School Charter Petition and, if Denied, Adopt Board Resolution Number 09-10-09 Denying the Petition for the Piru Charter School (Materials)
X. FUTURE MEETINGS
November 17 5:15 p.m. Closed Session – Board Room
6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting – Board Room
XI. BOARD CLOSING COMMENTS AND AGENDA BUILDING
XII. ADJOURNMENT

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, Calif., – As a kick-off to CSU Channel Islands’ International Week, Ladino singer Sarah Aroeste will appear in concert on Nov. 16 at 5:00 p.m. in Malibu Hall, Room 100 on the CI campus. The concert is open to the public with a $5 admission fee.

Aroeste, a well-known recording artist and performer of Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) music, focuses on creating contemporary musical interpretation of Sephardic music. This music comes from the Jews who were expelled from Spain in the 15th century during the Inquisition. Aroeste calls her music “Ladino Rock,” a combination of centuries old songs with rock, funk, jazz, and blues.

International Week is sponsored by the University’s IRA CONTINUED »

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, Calif., Nov 4, 2009 – A new exhibition, “Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program, 1942-1964,” recently opened at the Washington, D.C. Smithsonian National Museum of American History (SNMAH). In late September, Dr. Richard R. Rush, President of CSU Channel Islands (CI), and Pilar Pacheco, Assistant Director of the Center for Community Engagement, attended a reception at the SNMAH honoring the University’s contribution to the national oral history project, among others.

At the opening of the exhibit in Washington, Rush and other partners in the oral history project were recognized for their work and institutional commitment in preserving this part of America’s history. Also attending were Mexico’s former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jorge Castañeda, Arizona’s U.S. House of Representative Raúl Grijalva, and Director of the National Museum of American History, Brent Glass.

CI collaborated with the Smithsonian National Museum of CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

by Richard Durborow
The Charter School Founding Group would like to take this opportunity to express their disappointment in what was supposed to have been an objective and professional hearing on the merits of the sixteen major points of the Charter School Petition, which was submitted to the Fillmore Unified School District on September 16. We knew when we entered the Piru Cafeteria that evening to find that our seating had been taken away, that it was going to be a less than business-like session. The side door of the cafeteria was locked in front of us, as we stood outside with our guests, Jessica Norman of EXED, the accounting firm many charter schools employ, and Yvette King-Berg, Vice President of the California Charter Schools Association. We presented the message we had, all thirteen of us, from where we were made to stand in a small corner, despite that fact that one of our staff was very pregnant, another had just given birth, and another was ill.

The evening began with other troubling issues. Those handing out the cards to speak included the two staff members who have most hotly opposed the charter idea for over the last eighteen months. They have gone around Piru, making their opposition known, and this intimidated some of the parents who had come to speak in favor of the charter from filling out a card. The practice of sharing minutes by members of the audience was introduced, although this had not been brought up ahead of time in scheduling the meeting. State of California Migrant Funds had been used to provide a bus for parents, who were encouraged, en route, to voice opposition. Although it was announced that speakers expressing redundancies would be hurried, this did not happen, during an orchestrated confrontation, which lasted four and a half hours.

One parent who drives her children to Piru was repeatedly harassed by Board Member Prado about CONTINUED »